Cauca, Colombia

Cauca, in southwestern Colombia around Popayán and Inzá, grows coffee on high Andean plateaus mostly between 1,700 and 2,100 metres, with a strong presence of Indigenous and campesino smallholder communities organised into cooperatives. The combination of high altitude, equatorial sun, and cool nights produces crisp, structured coffees with pronounced citric and red-fruit acidity, floral notes, and clean sweetness. Predominantly washed Caturra, Castillo, and Colombia, Cauca lots are sought after by roasters who want a brighter, more delineated Colombian profile. The department's stable volcanic geography around the Puracé range underpins its consistent cup quality.

At a glance

• Altitude: 1500–2100 masl
• Typical varieties: Caturra, Castillo, Colombia
• Common processes: Washed
• Harvest: 4, 5, 6

Climate

High equatorial Andean climate with strong diurnal temperature range.

Soil & terroir

Volcanic ash soils around the Puracé volcanic complex.